Time to go back to basics

With the winter chill and the intermittent rains, everyone is huddled in their blanket and trying to stay cosy under the layers. The weather brings its own share of worries with cracking lips and heels, dry, flaky skin and dull hair.

Bengalureans share some home remedies to combat the season’s woes. Swarna Narayan, a swimming instructor, says that the winter plays nasty tricks when it comes to one’s well-being. “Lotions don’t always help. I apply castor oil or olive oil and have a warm water bath after that which retains enough oil but doesn’t leave me sticky. For the face and lips, I use milk cream or even ‘ghee’,” she says.

While many use egg-white as a hair conditioner, people who can’t stand the smell can use unsalted butter too as a conditioner, she says. “As surprising as this may sound, it works well as a hair mask. This needs time for application though,” says Swarna. A ripe avocado mixed with egg is also good for the hair. Olive oil and honey is a great remedy for flaking skin, she adds. “One can even apply yoghurt as a face pack. Just leave some on the face and wash it off.”

Aloe vera is the magic healer of the season, vouches Latha Veeranna, a homemaker. “I apply this twice a week to my hair and skin. I also grind the hibiscus flower with curry leaves and use this mix to wash my hair,” she says. For the face, ‘multani mitti’ with curd works wonders, she says. “This naturally exfoliates and leaves smooth skin behind,” says Latha.

An oil bath is the definite go-to solution for maintaining healthy skin and hair, says Shreya Shetty, an Ayurveda doctor. “Do this at least once a week. Avoid soaps during the season and make a natural mix of green gram flour with a pinch of turmeric and milk and wash your face with this. Milk is a natural cleanser and this mix works even for oily skin,” she adds.

“Use apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to wash your hair. Eating high-water content vegetables during this season like carrots, lettuce and cucumber is a must. Eating nuts and seeds like flaxseeds that are high in Omega 3 and fibre is also essential during this season,” she adds. 

It’s not just about taking care of the skin externally but also internally, says Dr Navaneetha R K, a naturopathy consultant. “Removing toxins to keep the skin healthy is important. One must exercise regularly as sweating it out helps eradicate them. Consuming a minimum of three litres of water every day is important to cleanse the system,” she says.

Avoiding a hot water bath is the best way to go. “Though one would feel like having a hot water shower or bath, this will dehydrate one’s hair and skin. This will also strip off the natural moisturisers of the skin and hair, making it duller,” she adds. Coconut oil is a great applicant as it controls dandruff and prevents hair loss too. “This repairs split ends and strengthens the hair.”

Drinking a mixture of carrot and orange juice is also good. “For exfoliating the skin naturally, use an oatmeal, milk and honey scrub or a gree gram scrub, twice a week for dry skin. For oily skin, one can use baking soda and water,” she says.

A mixture of an orange and carrot pack or a papaya pack can also be used to refresh one’s skin. “A mixture of coconut, almond and olive oil in equal quantities will have a nice moisturising effect,” she adds. Covering oneself well is also a requisite. “Tie up your hair during the season to avoid split ends and damage,” she advises.